Lewis Welding and Fabrication opens

RITZVILLE - A couple who relocated here from the Seattle area has opened a new welding and machine shop in town.

Todd and Natalie Lewis opened Lewis Welding and Fabrication at 206 E. Broadway Ave. on Sept. 3.

Todd Lewis, 57, is the fourth of five generations of iron workers in his family. His son,

The shop itself isn't new to Ritzville; it opened in 1939.

"Then, it was more of a machine shop than welding," Lewis said.

And welding and fabrication are nothing new to Lewis, who worked in shipyards.

"I've worked on 3,000 ton ferries and 60-story skyscrapers," he said, noting he also worked on bridges.

The couple followed their daughter and grandchildren to Ritzville to "keep the family together."

But they also wanted to live in a safe community, away from the crime and drugs that have become prevalent in the metropolitan area from Seattle to Tacoma.

The couple's wants turned into a plan to open a business that will serve the community and farmers from around the region.

"I wanted to try something a little bit smaller," Lewis said, noting the town and area farmers have been in need of a local welding and fabrication shop for at least four years."

"Quite a few people have been missing out (on welding and fabrication)," he said, noting they've had to call on someone from Moses Lake, the Tri-Cities or even Spokane. "There's a pretty good need for it."

Currently, the business is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. But the company is on its way to offering 24-hour emergency service and Lewis is currently in the process of getting a mobile service vehicle ready for service.

"We hope to have it on the road in a week or two," he said. "And if things go well, we'll add a second truck or maybe more."

Meanwhile, his shop has three cranes. There's not a lot he can't already handle in house.

Lewis said he plans to offer quality service at fair prices, something he believes will help his business grow.

Farmers and truck enthusiasts are often buying "stuff made in China or Korea," he said. "I can sell them a lot better product made in the U.S., right here in their hometown."

Lewis custom manufactures flat beds for trucks, roll bars and "any number of different things for ag."

Farmers calling on an out-of-area business have to spend a "few hundred bucks" just to get someone to Ritzville. Since he's already here, he said farmers won't be paying as much for his service.

"I can save farmers a lot of money," he said. "As a small business, its my responsibility to help my customers. Fair price and quality work... If I can give those things to people, I can make them happy and save them money."

As for his wife, Natalie Lewis," she's the one who will keep the business running.

"She's pretty much the bookkeeper and she runs everything," Todd Lewis said, noting his wife brings years of experience as an office manager and bookkeeper.

In addition to promising quality work at a fair price, Todd Lewis enjoys coaching baseball.

And he plans to sponsor a local team in the next season.

Looking around Ritzville, Todd Lewis said he's proud to be among the new small businesses opening.

And he's glad to see growth - as long as it doesn't detract from the quality of life the community has to offer.

Todd Lewis offered said he enjoys his work, even though it goes against the advice of his father.

"I told my son the same thing my Dad told me - don't be an ironworker, stupid," he said.

He also offered some of his own advice to his son.

"Offer fair, good service for a fair, good price," he said. "And, of course, I stand behind everything I do."

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

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